Extract the contents of hosts.zip to a folder on your hard disk. Locate the file named hosts.txt which you just extracted and rename it to HOSTS with no .TXT extension. Copy the renamed HOSTS file to one of the following locations depending on your version of Windows.

Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc

Windows Server 2003/2008/2012

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc

Windows NT/2000

C:\Winnt\System32\Drivers\Etc

Windows 95/98/Me

C:\Windows

If you are running Windows 2000 or above and you are not a part of a domain, or notice a considerable slowdown, you will need to disable the Windows DNS Client Service.

To accomplish this, click Start, Run and type "services.msc" and click OK. Double click DNS Client service entry, set its startup type to manual and stop the service. You will need to be logged on as a member of the Administrators group to perform this task. After you have stopped the DNS Client you may install your hosts file.

Failure to disable the DNS Client may cause your computer to slow down and/or stop responding until the DNS Client is stopped. If you'd like to keep the DNS client enabled, whilst still using a large HOSTS file such as hpHosts, should use the hosts-optimized.zip package.

Hosts File Installation(Linux)

Extract the contents of hosts.zip to a folder on your hard disk. Locate the file named hosts.txt which you just extracted and rename it to hosts (lowercase and with no extension). Copy/move the renamed HOSTS file to the following location.

From a terminal (for non BeOS users):

sudo cp ./hosts.txt /etc/hosts

For BeOS:

sudo cp ./hosts.txt /boot/beos/etc/hosts

Hosts File Installation(MAC)

Extract the contents of hosts.zip to a folder on your hard disk. Locate the file named hosts.txt which you just extracted. Copy the renamed HOSTS file to the following location.

This file contains sites involved in spam (that do not otherwise meet any other classification criteria) listed in the hpHosts database
This should ONLY be downloaded by those wanting to block spam sites and nothing else, and requires manual merging.

This file contains sites spamming the hpHosts forums (and not meeting any other classification criteria) listed in the hpHosts database
This should ONLY be downloaded by those wanting to block these sites and nothing else, and requires manual merging.

This file contains sites involved in misleading marketing (e.g. fake Flash update adverts) listed in the hpHosts database
This should ONLY be downloaded by those wanting to block misleading marketing sites and nothing else, and requires manual merging.